FRANCINE (FRANNY) McCARTNEY was born and raised in a small obscure town called Brooklyn, New York. She first appeared on stage at the age of 3 1/2 with her mother, the avid dancer, who costumed and choreographed a duo tap dance number while in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Her next most memorable role was that of "Ralph" in Gilbert and Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore" in elementary school, even before "Victor, Victoria", "Tootsie" and "La Cage Aux Folles" made cross dressing popular. Franny continued studying music, acting and dance at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. After a prolific college career in theatre arts, she graduated as a social worker. Upon escaping a brief stint as a New York City caseworker unharmed, Franny left Brooklyn for the serenity and warmth of Los Angeles. She soon landed a role in a documentary film about Dennis Hopper and launched her professional singing career as a singing waitress. She joined in starting "The Group With No Name" which enjoyed moderate national success while signed to Casablanca Records and Elektra Records. (Katey Sagal of "Peg Bundy" fame was a singing waitress with Franny and also a member of "The Group With No Name".) After the group disbanded, Franny worked as a supporting vocalist with various artists including Bob Dylan, Gene Simmons (of KISS), Tanya Tucker, Glen Campbell, Suzi Quatro (Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days) and Barbra Streisand. But she says the highlight of her career was touring with Bette Midler as a "Harlette" on The World Tour (with Katey Sagal(again) and Linda Hart) a European T.V. Tour, and then a U.S. Tour , culminating in appearing in "BETTE- Divine Madness" at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway in New York, and during this time meeting and marrying the love of her life Andrew McCartney. (Up until that time, she was Franny(Francine)Eisenberg). Franny also appears in both books, "A View From A Broad' and "The Divine Bette Midler". 

Growing up in Brooklyn with a very culturally appreciative family, Franny was lucky to have a mom who took her to every Broadway matinee and show at The Radio City Music Hall. That probably has a lot to do with her love of musical theatre and variety shows. Now that she was a married lady and didn't want to go on the road any more, she decided to focus on the theatre in Los Angeles. Her first audition was for "Hello Dolly" with Joanne Worley at the Long Beach Civic Light Opera. She was excited to get a part in the ensemble. It was a phenomenal show. She went on to appear in many productions in the flourishing L.A. theatre scene garnering rave reviews including "Hollywood, Hollywood" at the original Masquers Club; "Backstreet" with the L.A. Repertory Theatre; the role of Columbia in the fifteenth anniversary production of "The Rocky Horror Show"; "Blame it on the Movies" at the Coast Playhouse; "The Fellowship" in L.A. which was then brought to Toronto; "Dressing Room Divas" which ran simultaneously in L.A. and New York; the developmental workshop and original cast recording of "Sisterella" ; a fantastic production of "Ruthless-the Musical" in San Diego in which she played the two roles  of Miss Block and Myrna Thorn; the starring role in "Wuornos" the workshop of an original opera about serial killer Aileen Wuornos which was produced in San Francisco. (You can imagine what a great stretch that was for Franny); and performing her one-woman show "FRANNY!", which is a constantly evolving live work in progress. And for the past few years she's been a member of the foremost site specific multi media dance company in America, Heidi Duckler"s " Collage Dance Theatre". She has been their vocal soloist and an actor in a myriad of their productions, originating many characters and collaborating in the creation of many shows with this highly acclaimed company. She has also been singing with three fantastic professional choirs. Howlett Smith's Harmony Choir appearing all over Southern California, Randy Van Horne Jazz Singers, and The National In-Choir which performs at Christmas in hospitals, homes and missions. She recently was one of the leads in an independent film "The Adventures of Charlie" with Pearl of Goa Productions, which is now producing her latest live show "FRANNY! A Life in Song". She continues to study and work on her crafts, and is very blessed and privileged to have had the guidance and mentoring of Madame Marina Koshetz for many years, and to have the support and love of her superlative family and friends. 

Photo 1 - Franny McCartneys Promo Shot

Tours As A Harlette

1978 World Tour (1978)
Bette! Divine Madness (1979)